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“One more question,” Theo said when Drea’s coughs subsided. “Did he say where he was coming from? What he’d been doing before he was at the pub?”
“P-possibly,” Drea said, her inhales turning quick. “I can’t—remember it all, due to it being a blur now, but … he shouted, kept yelling. Accused me of forcing him to spend all his money in order to get into my…” Her mouth wrenched. “I won’t say the word. It’s foul.”
She took some time to think, and hopefully relax, her lungs likely straining from the effort of providing both voice and oxygen to this small, battered body.
“A game of some sort,” Drea said, coming up for air. “We bantered about winnings at the pub, which is how he was paying for our drinks. Stated how he was running low, but I was worth the additional risk.”
“Okay.” Theo looked to his shoulder and I jolted, my hand lifting off it in the same action. “Thank you.”
He rose. I took his proffered hand before thinking. The dry warmth had me clutching firmer as I stood, my fingers disappearing in his steady grip.
At full height, I almost didn’t want to let him go. But released his hand all the same.
Before I could remind Theo—“Bo, call the doctor,” he said. “Make Drea comfortable immediately.”
“‘Course boss,” Bo said, stepping forward. I’d forgotten he was in the room.
“Come,” Theo said to me.
“I’m not your dog,” I replied, but it was to his back. I said to Drea, “You did well.”
“Did I?” she asked. “It doesn’t seem so, the way your friend rushed out of here—oh.”
Drea succumbed to more coughs.
“Sax is scampering away because you gave him something.” I reassured with a quick hand-squeeze. “Believe me. I know.”
“Good,” she said, then, more fiercely, “Good.”
“I’ll tell you the instant we have him,” I promised. And I meant it.
“Thank you … wait.”
I paused in the entryway.
“I … I never got your name.”
“Scarlet. But you”—I thought a moment, took a breath—“you can call me Letty.”
“Letty,” she repeated.
There was no time for second guessing. I smiled my good-bye, then hurried out of there.
